What is Universal Milling Machine?

The universal milling machine is a general-purpose metal cutting machine tool.

We can directly install the various cylindrical milling cutters, disc milling cutters, forming milling cutters, end milling cutters, and other tools to connect the spindle hole. Suitable for processing many types of medium and small parts of planes, grooves, holes, gears. It is ideal processing equipment for machinery manufacturing, molds, instruments, meters, automobiles, motorcycles, and other industries.

Structuer of universal milling machine

Column and base provide support for the other parts of the milling machine. There is an oil reservoir and pump in the column to lubricate the spindle. The column rests on the base and also it has a coolant reservoir and a pump to provide coolant in machining operations.

Saddle and table have the support of casting. The gearing mechanism is enclosed within the knee. The knee is fastened to the column by dovetail ways. It is supported and adjusted by a vertical positioning screw also known as an elevating screw. The use of the elevating screw is to adjust the knee up and down by raising or lowering the lever with the help of hand or power feed.

The saddle is on the knee and supports the table. Saddle slides on horizontal dovetail on the knee and dovetail are parallel to the axis of the spindle (in horizontal milling m/c). Swivel table is attached to the saddle that swiveled (revolved) horizontally in both directions.

The power feed mechanism is in the knee. The power feed mechanism is used to control in longitudinal (left and right), transverse (in and out) and vertical (up and down) feeds. For the desired rate of feed on the machine, the feed selection lever is placed to indicate on the feed selection plates. For some universal knee and column milling machine, feed is obtained by turning the speed selection handle till the required rate of feed is shown on feed dial. Almost in every milling machine, there is a rapid traverse lever which is used when a temporary increase in the speed of the longitudinal, transverse, or vertical feeds is required. This lever is used when the operator is aligning or positioning the work.

The table is a rectangular casting that is present on the top of the saddle. The table is used to hold the work or for work holding devices. There are several T-slots to hold work and work holding devices (jigs and fixtures). It can be operated by hand or by power. For moving the table by hand, engage, and turn the longitudinal hand crank. For move, it by power, engage and longitudinal direction feeds control lever.

The spindle is used to holding and drives the cutting tools of the milling machine. It is mounted on the bearings and has the support of the column. The spindle is driven by an electric motor via gear trains and gear trains are on the column. The spindle face lies near the table and having an internal taper machined on it. There are two keys at the front face provides a positive drive for cutter holder or arbor.